28 
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW 
William IV. 
Kew in its 
Decadence. 
accession to the throne in 1830, and his consequent ownership of 
Kew, did nothing to awaken the establishment from the lethargy 
which, in a scientific sense, had overtaken it. A few 
changes were effected, however, and some additions made 
to the features of the garden during his short reign. The present 
No. 1 House, standing close to the chief entrance, and now devoted to 
the cultivation of tropical aroids, etc., was removed to its present site 
from Buckingham Palace in 1836. At first it did duty for the Palm 
House, which had long been projected but was not built until 
1848. The structure known as King William’s Temple was also 
built towards the close of this reign. 
We have now reached the time when the fortunes of Kew had 
sunk to the lowest degree. William IV. died in 1837, an ^ the young 
Queen had no personal associations with the place. Soon 
the Botanic Garden began to be regarded as little more 
than an incubus on the Royal purse. Yet, with all its 
shortcomings, Kew still possessed a very extensive collection of plants. 
Of Australian — or, as they were then called, New Holland — plants, 
it contained by far the richest collection in existence. It was, no 
doubt, hampered by want of adequate funds, but what was still more 
lacking was a vigorous and intelligent management. Remedied in 
these respects, public interest and appreciation might have compen- 
sated for the absence of immediate Royal interest. But the Kew of 
1837 had apparently succumbed to that peculiar listlessness or even 
lethargy to which botanic gardens appear to be particularly subject. 
King William died on June 20th, 1837, and in January of the 
following year a committee of three persons was appointed “ to in- 
. quire into the management, etc., of the Royal Gardens.” 
o“ 6 Of this committee the leading spirit was Dr. John 
1838 4 y ' Lindley, a notable botanist of his time, and a man 
well conversant with horticultural matters through his 
connection with the Horticultural Society. His colleagues were Mr. 
(afterwards Sir Joseph) Paxton, and Mr. Wilson, gardener to the 
Earl of Surrey. They visited the gardens in February, 1838, and 
presented their report in the same month. There is no month in the 
twelve so unsuited for the inspection of a garden as February, 
especially a February like that of 1838, which had followed one of 
the worst winters on record. Herbaceous plants are still underground ; 
deciduous trees and shrubs are leafless ; and in the glass-houses the 
